FIONA BACKS UK FIGHT FOR FAIRER MACKEREL QUOTAS
April 17, 2007 12:00 AM
Fiona Hall has welcomed the news that UK Officials will be fighting for UK Mackerel fishermen at an Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting today.
UK Officials are expected to argue that France has not been punished for over-fishing of endangered bluefin tuna whereas UK and Ireland have suffered reduced quotas for herring and mackerel over five years, to clawback quota which had been exceeded.
Commenting on the situation in Northumberland, Ms Hall said:
"Overfishing of mackerel is not an issue on the Northumberland coastline but fishermen here have been penalised with small quotas.
"The Government needs to ensure that there is an adequate quota for Northumberland fisheries to catch mackerel. In July 2006 the quota offered was so small that it was closed within days of it opening, not least because of very heavy fishing by Scottish fishermen.
"There is no reason why Northumbrian fisheries should not be offered a larger quota especially with such substantial stocks of mackerel off the Northumberland coastline."
Ms Hall raised the concerns of Northumbrian fishermen and lobbied Ben Bradshaw MP, the Fisheries Minister, when he visited Northumberland last year. The Member of European Parliament said:
"Mr Bradshaw told me at that time that there is a possibility of quota swaps with other countries.
"Today's meeting is encouraging but the UK Government must continue to fight for our fishermen."
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